Tom Izzo speaks on AJ Hoggard, Mady Sissoko using COVID years

Tom Izzo spoke to the media Monday and was asked about Mady Sissoko and AJ Hoggard using their COVID-19 years.

A lot of questions have circulated this year regarding Tom Izzo and his future retirement plans. This also will be the last year the extra COVID-19 year can be used by seniors to stay in college for one more season. That means both AJ Hoggard and Mady Sissoko could return to Michigan State next season.

With MSU’s final home game on Wednesday, Izzo commented on both of these topics during his Monday press conference on if this will be the last home game for either of these three.

Will this be Tom Izzo’s last home game?

This question has been asked a lot this season and Izzo has given the same answer every time. He wasn’t even asked this question on Monday, but he felt the need to say it just to be clear.

Izzo on senior night and final game at Breslin: "There's something about your last game that you those memories usually last a little longer. So I don't know how they'll take it."

He also slips in this: "It's not my last game."

— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) March 4, 2024

This coincides perfectly with what he said in a CBS Sports interview earlier this season, so there is no fear of this being Izzo’s last home game.

But what about Hoggard or Sissoko? They’re both seniors but could come back for one more season if they’d like.

Izzo isn’t giving anything away for their future plans

This likely won’t surprise you at all, but Izzo is not giving away AJ or Mady’s future plans.

Izzo on whether fourth-year guys (Hoggard/Sissoko) might return for extra COVID eligiblity. "The way I look at it is my seniors are seniors this year." Won't address it until after the season.

— Chris Solari (@chrissolari) March 4, 2024

It appears that Izzo is planning on this being both AJ and Madys final games at the Breslin Center. I’m guessing Izzo has also thought this way as well when recruiting for the future. Maybe Izzo knows what their decision will be or maybe he doesn’t, but he is not confirming anything. Not publicly sharing there decision is probably the right choice as well. The time for those announcements will come when the season ends. Hoggard and Sissoko both also deserve to share those announcements however they like as well. So we’re still gonna have to wait a while until we find out if either player will be returning next year.

The best news out of all of this, however, is that Izzo isn’t going anywhere. In fact, it seems like he might be around for a lot longer still. Even if he hasn’t been at his best in recent years, I still never want to see him leave. He makes this team and program far better than any other coach could, so we just need to sit back and enjoy having him on the sidelines while he’s still here.